Massachusetts education funding bill supported by teachers, mayors, advocates would cost up to $2 billion a year

BOSTON —A large coalition of politicians, mayors, teachers and education advocates are throwing their support behind a new bill that could eventually increase state education funding by between $1 billion and $2 billion a year.

“It affects every district across the commonwealth, those that are fluent, those that are struggling. There’s something in there for everyone,” said state Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, one of the bill’s primary sponsors in the House.

The bill, named the PROMISE Act, is sponsored by Vega, Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, D-Boston, and Rep. Mary Keefe, D-Worcester.

The bill is similar to a bill that passed the Senate last year and would create a process for implementing the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission.

The 2015 commission found that the existing formula used to distribute state funding for public schools is outdated. It underfunds employee health care costs, special education costs, costs for English language learners and for districts with high concentrations of poverty. That report found that the state is underestimating the cost of public education by $1 billion to $2 billion a year.

Last year, both the House and the Senate passed bills to update the formula. But there were differences between the House and Senate bills, particularly related to English language learners and high-poverty districts. The two sides were unable to agree on a compromise before the legislative session ended.

The bill now proposed is similar to the Senate version. It would require state budget writers to calculate how much it would cost to account for all four changes — setting health care calculations based on the actual cost of health insurance, increasing the assumption of how many students will use special education, and providing more money for English language learners and low-income districts.

The bill would also make additional changes to the formula, giving districts more options for how they calculate the number of low-income students and ensuring that school districts get enough money to pay for students attending traditional public schools after accounting for charter school tuition.

Each year, lawmakers would have to determine how much money is available to fund education and set aside that money through the state budget process.

The bill does not specify the time frame in which the changes would be implemented, which would affect the cost. The additional cost once it is fully implemented is likely to be between $900 million and $2 billion annually, according to Chang-Diaz.

The bill does not include a specific funding source, so it would be up to lawmakers to find the money through the state budget process.

School officials have long complained that they need to cut all kinds of services, from school supplies to sports to mental health counselors, to make up for the underfunding.

In Chelsea, superintendent Mary Bourque said over the last five years, the homeless population has grown from around 130 students to 440 students, and the number of English language learners has doubled from 20 percent to 40 percent. Underfunding in health care and special education has diverted $15 million from the classrooms.

In Lawrence, School Committee Vice Chairwoman Marianela Rivera said ninth grade students get photocopied handouts instead of math and science textbooks. Many students do not have internet at home, and their parents cannot read or write English.

“Our education system is inequitable, and it’s predominantly affecting poor students of color,” Rivera said.

Urban school districts are among those pushing hardest for the bill. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse were among those who attended a State House press conference releasing the bill.

“The fact that the funding formula hasn’t been updated in years has shortchanged Holyoke millions of dollars,” Morse said. “We’re asked to do more with less with no consideration for the amount of English language learners and students with special needs in Holyoke.”

“It’s about urban communities and Gateway Cities in the commonwealth getting their fair share, and making sure your zip code doesn’t dictate the quality of education you’re getting,” Morse said.

But rural districts could also benefit. Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, has been pushing for the funding formula to target more money to rural schools. Hinds said he will continue to fight, potentially through an amendment to this bill, to have the formula include rural school money.

Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, has said he will introduce his own school funding proposal this year. Baker said Monday that he is hopeful the school funding debate can be resolved by June or July, possibly through the state budget process.

Lawmakers from both the House and Senate have said they will make updating the education funding formula a priority.

Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, said she hears questions about school funding whenever she talks to school officials in her district. “We know our schools are underfunded, we know we weren’t able to pass the legislation that would have increased funding last session. Everyone wants to make sure we’re going do it this session,” Sabadosa said.

“Funding for education hasn’t kept pace with our need for special education, capital infrastructure, health care costs, all the things we know need a bigger, more robust infusion of state investment,” Comerford said. “If we want the commonwealth to remain healthy … it has to start with funding our schools.”